Research Director

Sensis; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO

Health/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Sensis is seeking a Research Director to lead and grow a cross-cultural marketing research practice in Los Angeles. You will guide study design, supervise a small team, synthesize insights, and communicate findings to clients.

The role emphasizes leadership, budgeting, and building strong client partnerships across projects. Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in market research, strong analytics, and prior experience in advertising or marketing research.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of prior experience in market research.
• Ability to lead project managers and multiple projects.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Proficient in presenting insights to clients.

Responsibilities

• Guide a team from study design through analysis and reporting with high-quality deliverables.
• Lead the Lead Analyst role across varied projects.
• Direct multiple projects, keeping timelines and budgets in check.
• Deliver actionable client insights and foster client relationships.
• Mentor team members and support proposal development.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Verbal & written communication

Client relationships

Budget management

Education

BA in Business, Economics, or Social Sciences

MA or MBA preferred

Job description

Who We Are

An integrated cross-cultural marketing agency. We reflect and embrace the cultural diversity of America to develop meaningful marketing programs that drive measurable conversions.

SENSIS

Who We Are

An integrated cross-cultural marketing agency. We reflect and embrace the cultural diversity of America to develop meaningful marketing programs that drive measurable conversions.

We opened our doors in 1998 (as Focus Multimedia). We got our start building websites and have expanded into a full-service advertising agency, helping our clients take advantage of the fundamental changes taking place in the marketing world - the emergence of digital technologies, expanded multiculturalism, and the transformative impact of social media.

What We Are Looking For

This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial market research expert to help build and grow a unique research practice within a cross-cultural advertising agency.

We are seeking an experienced quant and/or qual researcher who wants to step into the limelight and make a real difference in our advertising business -creative or media agency experience a bonus.

As a Research Director, you will bring your leadership, research expertise, and analytic thinking to successfully manage multiple projects, grow and develop your project team, provide business insights through analyzing data, and build client relationships. You will lead and develop your project team as they manage and execute research projects, as well as be the lead analyst on your own studies. You will also provide guidance to team members on various research methodologies and project management techniques. Applying your research expertise and strong organizational skills, you will assist in developing proposals to design, and subsequently lead, complex studies that produce high-quality client deliverables and support our unique ability to use market research to have business impact, while achieving strong financial results. Applying your business expertise and strong analytic thinking, you will discern meaningful patterns and connections from complex data, help extract meaningful insights and recommendations, and communicate the findings to clients in a clear and concise fashion. Your ability and initiative to solve problems, mentor teams, analyze data, manage budgets, and support proposal development will be met with growth opportunities.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Guide a team as they execute research project process from study design through analysis and reporting, producing thorough, high-quality deliverables while achieving excellent financial results.
• Effectively perform the Lead Analyst role on a variety of projects.
• Direct multiple projects for you and your team simultaneously, while ensuring they remain efficient, on schedule and within budget
• Apply solid business understanding to deliver actionable, impactful findings to clients.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of teamwork while providing growth and development opportunities for team members, including building morale and supporting company initiatives and efforts.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to create an inspiring environment; maintain a positive attitude in challenging situations.
• Be available to serve as a team resource for decision making and guidance.
• Proactively lead problem solving efforts; provide suggestions and take action on areas needing improvement.
• Develop client rapport and manage expectations through communications that develop trust and build strong relationships.
• Collaborate with Business Developers by assisting in the proposal and bid process.
• Effectively manage people managers in direct reporting relationships.
• Directly supervise a team of 2 (and growing) research team members

What You’ll Bring Along

• B.A. in related field such as Business, Economics, or Social Sciences. M.A. or MBA preferred.
• At least 5 years of prior experience in market research.
• Able to lead project managers, multiple projects and teams simultaneously to deliver quality deliverables with strong financial performance.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills of direct reports, project team and broader project members.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient analyst and report writer.
• Capable of managing workload priorities for self and team.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Proficient in building and maintaining client relationships.
• Preferred expertise in one or more business verticals or study methodologies.
• Experience in advertising and marketing preferred

About Sensis

Sensis is a cross-cultural marketing agency driving behavior change. Moving beyond cultural boxes, we create useful, digitally relevant content to drive consumer action. Ads don't work. Content does. Because people experience content. To change behavior, you need to engage people first—through useful, digitally relevant means. These are the tools we use to build engagement, spark motivation and drive action among the cultures our clients look to influence. Along with our integrated advertising services, Sensis offerings include specialty practices Sensis Health, Sensis Challenges and Sensis CMO. In addition to a competitive compensation package, we offer a generous amount of paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, health/dental/vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, along with other benefits.

What We Offer

Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Generous PTO - Potential growth opportunities

Where

Any of our 5 offices - Los Angeles, Orange County, Atlanta, Austin, or Washington, DC

Compensation

For California residents only - the salary range for this role is $80,000-$120,000.

The offered salary or salary range is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, overall experience, relevant experience, education level, certifications, applicable skills and expertise, and location of the position.